South Africa 2024 National and Provincial Elections: The African National Congress has been leading
Counting of ballots normally takes place at the voting station where the votes are cast. Party agents,
independent candidate agents and observers oversee the entire counting and results process and are
present at all times.
South Africa 2024 Elections: How Ballot Counting Works
1 VERIFY: All ballot boxes allocated to a voting station are accounted for. Sealed ballot boxes are opened
and emptied.
2 UNFOLD: Each ballot paper is unfolded facedown and checked for the Electoral Commission security stamp. Stamped ballots are considered valid. Unstamped ballots are invalid and are not counted toward the results.
3 SORT: All valid ballot papers are grouped according to colours representing the type of election (National, Regional and Provincial). The ballots are sorted into piles according to votes for each party and each candidate.
4 COUNT & BUNDLE: The ballots are counted and bundled into packs of 100. The results are counted for each party or candidate.
One of the most important aspects of a working democracy is that citizens have the right to vote and choose their leaders. For this to happen, the elections need to be free and fair. The Electoral Commission manages national, provincial and municipal elections, including referendums in South Africa. Its most important task is to ensure that these elections are free and fair.
Since 1994 all of South Africa’s General Elections have been viewed as free and fair by domestic and international observers.
How Result are Declared
The results forthe various parties or candidates are reconciled against the number of ballots
received and the total number of ballots cast at that voting station.
The results centres are there for political party representatives and independents to monitor
the voting, counting and results process. Parties and independents have the opportunity to raise objections to any alleged irregularities. Other stakeholders present include the media and
observers.
Results slips are signed by the counting officer, independent candidate agents and party agents. A copy of the results slip is posted on the door of each voting station. The other copy is transported to the local Electoral Commission office where it is scanned and captured in the results system. The results are also verified by independent external auditors.
The final results and seat allocation for the National Assembly and Provincial Legislature elections are
announced by the Electoral Commission within 7 days of the election.
